Simon Pillar

RETHINK MEANING

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to rethink the core drivers of their lives. The foundations of wealth, job, financial security and health have been shaken. Will we sound like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes and talk about how all is vanity and meaninglessness? People ask themselves various questions.  What is life about?  What are my idols?  Am I putting my faith in biblical, lasting values?  The present situation is an opportunity to reflect on our enduring objectives. What can we learn? 


Simon has a unique and exceptional background in business. PEP is the largest local private equity firm in Australia and New Zealand. Funds managed by PEP have made more than 30 operating company investments, and more than 100 bolt-on acquisitions. PEP VI closed in June 2020 at the hard cap of A$2.5 billion. PEP has also raised a Secure Assets Fund of A$360 million to invest in infrastructure-like assets with contracted base cashflows where it can apply its formula of value addition to deliver mid-teen returns. The firm has approximately A$3.5 billion in assets under management. It is the largest private equity fund manager in Australasia as measured by FUA. The background of the PEP principals in strategy and implementation combines with the industry knowledge and operational experience of portfolio management teams to deliver full potential at individual operating companies. Success is based on a partnership model comprising agreed objectives, share economics and mutual trust. The PEP Funds target investments in a wide range of industries including: industrial products & services, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, entertainment and 'big data'/financial services. A number of these businesses already have operations in Asia, and others are in the process of developing operations in the region. PEP is frequently recognised by the industry as a leader and has received many awards including Firm of the Year, Best LBO Deal of the Year and Private Equity Firm of the Year, and has been included in the list of Top 20 Consistent Performers Globally by Preqin.

Prior to founding PEP, Simon was a Partner with Bain & Company and worked as a strategy consultant in the US, Singapore and Sydney. He started his working life as an engineer with The Royal Dutch/Shell Group in The Netherlands. Simon received a BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering from the University of Bristol, and an MBA from the Wharton School where he was a Thouron Scholar. 

Until relocating to England in 2013, Simon was the chairman of Gospel Patrons Society in Australia. GPS was established in 2000 to encourage business people to think strategically about supporting gospel ministry with their time and talents as well as financially. Simon was also a collaborator in the book Gospel Patrons – People Whose Generosity Changed The World, and with the ministry that has emerged from that www.gospelpatrons.org